Is Chickboxin' Underground Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1999)

📖 The Core Premise

Chickboxin' Underground returns to the screen in 1999, bringing a fresh narrative to the Action, Comedy genre. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "We are about to see, live and with plenty of (some real and some fake) advertisements, an underground championship of girls boxing, or more exactly, catch-weight mixed martial arts competition. The always vociferous crowd of spectators (even when there's no action) serves as background for the endless and tiresome jokes of The Broadcast Team. It's not clear how many the competitors are, as the video cover mentions 9, but there are only 8 credits, the interviews don't follow a pattern, and the action consists of six matches. The accidental winner is handed a metal and the US$ 500,000 prize cash in a large handbag. That leads to a number of punch-ups, as everyone wants to take the bag from the next girl or guy, until the cops arrive to put an hurried end to the show."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. Unfortunately, Tiffany Shepis feels underutilized in a role that lacks depth. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Action. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Chickboxin' Underground worth your time? If you appreciate Action, Comedy films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Chickboxin' Underground misses the mark on several fronts. With a runtime of 76 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Skip It.